“I knew immediately it had enormous potential”, claimed Brent Marris, founder and former chief at Wither Hills, as he looked back on his search in 2003 for a special vineyard property that could become the iconic hub of a future winery. Relying on a vast knowledge of the area built up as a youngster exploring the landscape that is Marlborough, he discovered an exceptional 268 hectare property on the banks of Waihopai River.

He continued, “Tucked between the Delta hills and the Waihopai River the property flows over three distinct terraces of clays and ancient river shingles providing the fruit variation and complexity that a winemaker can normally only dream of from a single vineyard site.”

Brent’s vision is to produce a Sauvignon Blanc that reflects what New Zealand is all about – blue skies, green grass and cold water. He wanted to go back to what Marlborough is famous for, which is wine full of sharp citrus, gooseberry and herbaceous flavours. Opposite, of course, to some of the current overripe tropical fruit juice wines that may have been creeping their way into our weekly shop.

Named after one of the tallest rugged peaks to the south-east of the vineyard, the Ned is a deeply personal project for Marris. “I grew up in Marlborough and I spent countless hours hiking and biking in this area. The summit of the Ned, with its views across to the North Island and out to the Pacific Ocean, is a place I remember very clearly. I wanted to celebrate my Marlborough heritage by using a local icon as the symbol for my new brand.”

Brent Marris is one of the movers and shakers of the New Zealand wine industry. His father, John, was one of the first to plant Sauvignon Blanc vines in Marlborough, so his love and passion for the area and the wines it can produce runs deeply.

Matthew Jukes (Daily Mail) described the 2007 vintage as “the purest expression of Sauvignon Blanc I have ever tasted”. I would say that Matthew is not too far off the mark.

Click here to view the Ned Sauvignon Blanc, which is a particular favourite of @conoro